Having arrived at the Geographic North Pole, we pitched camp. Our next chore was to get the snow-melting process underway. We need to drink plenty of liquids to treat the dehydration we are all suffering from, due to our long final push without breaks.

Next, we made an inventory of our remaining food rations and decided what could be eaten now, and what should be `saved for a rainy day´. In a worst-case scenario, if weather conditions prevent aircraft from flying, or if there are equipment failures, we would need to wait several days at the Pole before being picked up.

Another important task was to take blood samples for the medical research being undertaken as part of the Expedition. Then, we crawled into our sleeping bags and fell asleep. After a while, Henkku got on the blower to Station Barneo to see about our pick-up flight. The helicopter flight was soon arranged, but the timing remained somewhat open-ended. The upshot of this was that the Mi-8 chopper arrived unexpectedly, unannounced and out of the blue. Surprised out of our sleep, we had a rush on to get out of our tents and strike camp.

The helicopter had already picked up another expedition, whom we met on board. On the same flight the chopper also swooped down to resupply Bettina Aller's expedition. Bettina's Argos transmitter had broken down, so we gave them ours. On the return journey the helicopter also picked up a dog-sleigh expedition, including twelve dogs. The more the merrier!

Finally, we arrived safely at Station Barneo. Once there, we consumed our first substantial hot meal of `proper´ food since the trek began. We ate ourselves sick. After a short wait we flew out of Barneo on the service flight to Spitzbergen. The incoming jet flight had been delayed by bad weather for twelve hours. The flight was conducted with Russian precision. None of us can remember when last it was possible, in this era of aviation terrorism, to board a scheduled flight armed to the teeth with sheath-knives for sharpening pencils, and stash our Bear shotgun in the overhead locker.

On arrival in Spitzbergen, we were greeted by Support Team members Pasi Nissilä and Heikki Karinen, and the reporter and photographer from Apu-lehti magazine. Because our arrival was delayed by half a day, the guys had had plenty of extra time on their hands, and they used it well: they had polished our servicing and debriefing routines to perfection!

For the rest of the day, they led us like tethered goats from one task to the next … `Put your gear to dry here.´ `Bag your clothes in this sack.´ `Jump on the weighing scales. Take a shower. Give us a blood sample. Now it's time for your medical check-up. Put on your civilian clothes …´ And so on.

As the evening approached, we opened welcome-home presents and parcels from family and friends. Some of the parcels contained May Day party noses and other such novelties. The high point of the evening was an evening meal at the best restaurant in town. This went some way to satisfying those food fantasies that have been bothering us for the last two months. After dinner the party continued for a while, but at last it was time to attend to our most important debriefing task: Sleep.

All is well with the Expedition.